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Ok, so I'm out flying this afternoon in the park and there were a few folks out but it was not to crowded since the temp was hovering around around 45 or so. Now I'm minding my own business doing a few loops putting the bird through its paces when all of a sudden this woman yells from about 50 or so feet away from me..."Sir I wish I was that kite so you could fly me around...I would sure like you to fly me around."

I'm normally unflappable and pretty quick on my feet but I have to confess that one left me speechless...I had nothing. All I could do was smile and nod.

Things like "Look at the guy flying a kite - what a homo" are a lot more common.

+1 Mr G. Through High School (graduated last year) it was MISERABLE for me to fly or talk about anything. Senior year I basically just said screw my peers, and did what I wanted. When there was nothing to do in my arts classes one day (sub)- I'd get my kites from the car and fly in the soccer field haha. Sadly I'm getting the same responses here in college. Nobody does as much at even give it a chance. But I'm keeping the same mentality as I did last year. Ocasionally I'll get a "thats cool" or something, but it's rare.

I find that most people are generally OK here down under. They usually walk by, always have a look, take photo's and if your good enough even take video of your flying.Sure there's the occasional oddball, angry kite boarder or crazy dog walker.... and really we know who the ones in the wrong are

What I hate is when your at a social gathering and happen to mention you fly kites This is usually followed by weird looks (you know the kind social periahs get) and before you can explain, hey the kites I fly are high performance stunt kites worth $100's they jump in and well.................. humor you with stories from their childhood building kites with bed sheets, cardboard and twine. And they think this interests you and makes them look cool to you. IDIOTS!!

What I hate is when your at a social gathering and happen to mention you fly kites This is usually followed by weird looks (you know the kind social periahs get) and before you can explain, hey the kites I fly are high performance stunt kites worth $100's they jump in and well.................. humor you with stories from their childhood building kites with bed sheets, cardboard and twine. And they think this interests you and makes them look cool to you. IDIOTS!!

I echo this sentiment. One of those "I hear crickets" moment when the subject of kites comes out of my mouth when I mention to some colleagues or friends when I say I fly kites. Its not so much of "Oh I flew a kite last weekend in the park" more rather "What?! You fly kites for at least hours non stop every weekend?!" (Yes I prefer that rather than watching paint dry)

Mention that you do kites (not literally) every weekend and some people's immediate reaction is that they think that you are into kite surfing, not those puny riddiculous buzzing ones with 2 or 4 lines. Jockish mentality.

And don't even get me started on how much the kites cost, or Indoor kites. I don't even want to go there having to explain things for 5 minutes with maybe less than 10% absorption, 0% appreciation and probably 100% ridicule.

Well to answer partially the OP's question, this is a pretty funny thing somebody said to me when I told them some of the kites I fly have 4 lines (Revs). He then asked me, "So, you hold the 2 lines with your hands and tie the other 2 lines to your hips?"

Doesn't compare with the pick-up line you got but my favorite was when I was doing some ground work during some high winds, coin tosses, cascades and such low to the ground and somebody came by and said maybe if I put a tail on it it would fly better I proceeded to do a bit of precision flying up in the window despite the pull and wingtip shudder and explained I was attempting to do those somersaults although grantedly badly in comparison to more skilled pilots.

It obviously looked to them like I couldn't get the kite off the ground even though I thought the wingtip stands were ok, especially when I hit a coin toss to the other tip, oh well.

« Last Edit: December 07, 2009, 08:09 PM by mikenchico »

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